As the population becomes more diverse, employers recognize that their employees, clients and vendors have similarities and differences that they need to accept and appreciate. Diversity in an organization extends beyond hiring employees of various ethnic backgrounds. It involves embracing and empowering all minorities. Employers must adapt their organizations to reflect these changes by incorporating diversity practices in their small businesses.

Fair Representation in Advertising

When a company plans its advertising campaign, it should strive to fairly represent diversity in print, web and mobile advertising efforts. To fairly represent the diversity in your customers, people from various ethnic backgrounds or even a same-sex couple in your advertisements. Ensure that you don't discriminate against potential customers who may have handicaps such as learning disabilities or physical impairments by representing those people in your advertisements.

Recruiting at Minority Events

Minority groups, organizations, schools and businesses host job fairs and recruiting events to help employers fill their open positions, as well as to encourage minorities to use networking to secure positions with companies. If you're looking to recruit employees, rent a booth at these events, or host your own networking mixers. Ensure that the language and images on your signage are designed to attract minority candidates. Make connections with minority organizations, which might have members with the qualifications and skills you need in job candidates, and have your positions posted on their job boards, blogs and social networking sites.

Develop a Job Rotation Schedule

Diversity within an organization isn't limited to race or gender, but also can focus on introducing employees to other departments and job functions with the organization. Job rotations allow employees to learn what co-workers do and how that contributes to the success of the organization. It teaches employees to respect each other, build relationships and see firsthand how diverse the workplace is.

Celebrate Cultural Holidays

Rather than solely recognizing mainstream holidays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving, host a cultural celebration monthly that represents different countries, religions and values. Sponsor an international potluck lunch, and ask that each guest bring a meal from his ethnic background to share. Arrange for authors from various cultures to visit the office and share ideas on teamwork and diversity. Invite employees to wear traditional dress that represents their heritage, or a heritage they admire.

Teach Employees Another Language

The Spanish language is widely spoken in the United States as the country becomes more diverse. Hire a language expert to teach your employees basic words and phrases in Spanish to help them interact more efficiently with customers. If your firm is in an area with a large number of people from another nation, teach employees key words in phrases in that country's language. Teach employees sign language if you have deaf workers. Learning any language is enrichment for your employees, and doing so teaches them about the importance of diversity within your organization and throughout the world.

About the Author

Miranda Brookins is a marketing professional who has over seven years of experience in copywriting, direct-response and Web marketing, publications management and business communications. She has a bachelor's degree in business and marketing from Towson University and is working on a master's degree in publications design at University of Baltimore.